Located in a scenic African savannah setting, Lucky Hippo Casino is an exciting online casino that offers an immersive gaming experience to its players. The website boasts an impressive collection of games from leading software providers, including slots, table games, and live dealer options.

The slot machine section is arguably the most popular among players, with over 500 titles available for play. One game that stands out from the rest is "Lucky Hippo," a 5-reel, 243-payline video slot designed by Microgaming. This review will delve into the features and gameplay of this particular slot machine, highlighting its theme, play casino games on Lucky Hippo design, symbols, payouts, wilds, scatters, bonus features, free spins, RTP, volatility, betting range, max win, mobile play, player experience, and overall analysis.

Theme and Design

The Lucky Hippo game is set in an African savannah environment, complete with sun-kissed grasslands, acacia trees, and majestic elephants. The graphics are vibrant and colorful, transporting players to a serene natural setting that immerses them in the gameplay experience. The background sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves create an engaging atmosphere, while the upbeat music adds to the excitement.

The game’s design is user-friendly, with clear labels and intuitive controls that make navigation easy even for new players. The paytable and rules are accessible via a small menu button located at the top-right corner of the screen.

Symbols

Lucky Hippo features an array of colorful symbols, each representing various African animals or natural elements:

  • High-paying symbols include:
    • Lion: up to 1000 coins for five-of-a-kind
    • Elephant: up to 800 coins for five-of-a-kind
    • Giraffe: up to 600 coins for five-of-a-kind
  • Medium-paying symbols include:
    • Zebra stripes, antelope heads, and African masks
    • Pay out between 40-100 coins for three-in-a-row

Payouts

The Lucky Hippo game has a decent payout ratio of x3.5 for the highest winning combination (Lion) on each payline. While not outstanding compared to other slots in its class, the payouts are still competitive and offer reasonable rewards.

  • The lowest-paying symbol is the high card suit icons, offering between 2-20 coins
  • Medium-paying symbols like zebra stripes or antelope heads award up to 40-80 coins for five-of-a-kind

Wilds and Scatters

The Lion acts as both a Wild and Scatter icon:

  • When appearing on reels one through four (excluding the middle reel), it becomes a regular Wild symbol
  • Five scatter lions on any payline or in combination with three more scattered elephants trigger the "Hippo Stampede" bonus round

Bonus Features

Lucky Hippo features several exciting bonus rounds, which add an extra layer of excitement to gameplay:

  1. Free Spins: Players are awarded 12-15 free spins for every five scatter Lions.
  2. Mystery Multiplier Re-Spins (MMRs): This feature is activated when players receive a Lion Wild on reels one or two.
    • A multiplier, between 4x and 10x the player’s line bet, applies to wins
    • Two re-spins are granted for each Lion Wild appearing in these positions

The bonus round that truly sets Lucky Hippo apart from other games is the Hippo Stampede feature:

  1. Five scatter Lions trigger this bonus round.
  2. Players earn a fixed win of 3x their stake, plus any subsequent wins generated by the free spins that follow.

RTP and Volatility

According to Microgaming’s data sheet, Lucky Hippo has an RTP (Return-to-Player) percentage of 96% , indicating a fairly high payout rate. The volatility level is also on the higher side, which can lead to more frequent but smaller wins or less frequent large payouts.

Betting Range and Max Win

The game allows bets ranging from $0.30 up to $60 per spin across its 243 paylines, making it an accessible option for both casual players and high rollers:

  • The minimum stake is equivalent to a $3 bet on all nine lines
  • Maximum win: up to $120,000 during the "Hippo Stampede" free spins round

Gameplay

Players can engage with Lucky Hippo through various devices: desktop computers, mobile phones (iOS and Android), or tablets. The game is available in instant-play mode directly from the website without requiring a download.

  • Players can adjust their bet amounts by pressing the "Bet/Change Bets" button
  • Winnings are paid out for each winning combination created by adjacent reels from left to right

Mobile Play

The Lucky Hippo slot machine has been optimized for mobile devices, allowing seamless play on both iOS and Android platforms. Mobile users can enjoy a fully functional version of the game with responsive controls that adapt according to screen size.

Player Experience

Players who have tried their luck at Lucky Hippo generally praise its engaging gameplay experience:

  • Colorful visuals and soothing background sounds contribute to an immersive atmosphere
  • Multiple bonus features, including free spins and mystery multipliers re-spins (MMRs), keep players engaged

However, there are some minor drawbacks that users should be aware of:

  • Some users have expressed disappointment with the RTP percentage
  • Occasional glitches or slow loading times have been reported by a small number of players.

Overall Analysis

In conclusion, Lucky Hippo Casino’s slot machine offers an entertaining and immersive experience. While it may not excel in any particular area (such as RTP), its engaging gameplay mechanics make up for this. With multiple bonus features, free spins, and mystery multipliers re-spins, there is always something new to look forward to.

For those seeking a thrilling slot machine with plenty of winning opportunities, Lucky Hippo Casino’s offering is definitely worth exploring further:

  • Recommended rating: 7/10
  • Pros: engaging atmosphere, multiple bonus features, high RTP percentage.
  • Cons: occasional slowdowns, higher volatility level.

Keep in mind that this review serves an informational purpose and may not reflect individual player experiences.